In 1994, with a grant from the National Institute of Mental Health, the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University formed a partnership to recruit and train future scientists for careers in the mental health professions in Western Pennsylvania. The program (The NIMH Undergraduate Fellowship Program in Mental Health Research), is an interdisciplinary program for talented undergraduate students drawing from the strengths of each university. It combines the University of Pittsburgh’s Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Neurobiology, Neurology, Neuroscience, Psychology, and Psychiatry with Carnegie Mellon’s Departments of Biological Sciences, Chemistry, and Psychology. This research fellowship gives talented undergraduate students in the biological and behavioral sciences the chance to conduct supervised research and participate in several research-related educational activities. This is an NIMH-supported program with the long-term goal of attracting outstanding students, especially women and members of minority groups, to research careers in mental health, behavioral medicine, and related disciplines.  The program was recently opened to medical students who would like to take some time off from their curriculum to focus solely on research.  In both cases, the Fellowship would be for one full year, including the fall, spring and summer terms. The program’s success has been validated by the large number of students who later pursue careers in health sciences. Many have gone on to M.D., M.D./Ph.D. and Ph.D. programs or to work in health science academic laboratory settings. The success of this program has led the NIMH to consider implementing this type of program at other universities.
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